THE BEST MOIST PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS
These Super Soft, Moist Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins are a Pumpkin Lovers Dream! C

Growing up in Canada, eating moist pumpkin chocolate chip muffins was not even on my radar. Pumpkin spice and pumpkin puree were not something we really even saw on the shelves in grocery stores.
Fast forward into the future, multiple border crossings later and I became a lover of everything pumpkin flavored from pumpkin-flavored Pop-tarts to Mini-Wheat cereal, and let’s not forget the yummy coffee creamers.
My pantry is always stocked with pumpkin puree as I make these bad boy moist pumpkin chocolate chip muffins year-round for my friends and family.
YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING INGREDIENTS
- Pumpkin puree
- All-purpose flour
- Eggs (or flax & water vegan substitute)
- Vegetable oil
- Sugar
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips (your size preference)
- Pumpkin spice
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
This recipe is very quick and easy to prepare so start by preheating your oven to 400°F on the bake setting to get things going.
READ: DELICIOUS DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO ZUCCHINI MUFFINS

PREPARATION STEPS
- Gather all your wet ingredients (oil, eggs, pumpkin puree, sugar) and whisk them all together in a large bowl until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, mix together your flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices.
- Then simply combine your dry ingredients to your wet mixture. Mix together until fully incorporated but do not overwork the mixture.
- Mix in your chocolate chips.
- Fill your muffins cups, three-quarters of the way (or all the way like I do) depending on how big and how many muffins you want this recipe to yield.
Since I like to fill my muffins cups to the top, using my oven, these goodies take about 18 minutes to bake. But since ovens vary, they can take anywhere from 16-20 minutes. So grab a wooden toothpick and test the center of your muffins at around 16 minutes to see how they are coming along.

Muffins Yield
This recipe easily makes 24 muffins filling them to the top. So if you are doing three-quarters of the muffin cup then you can expect a few extras. It’s also a great recipe to make in smaller batches if you’re not needing so many.
Freezing Extras
These muffins freeze great, I have never had issues thawing them afterward. I simply place my extras in a large freezer bag and pop them right into the freezer.
Substitutions
If you are short on oil, simply sub in some unsweetened apple sauce. You can also skip the chocolate chips if you are just looking for a pumpkin recipe.
- If you are short on oil, simply sub in some unsweetened apple sauce.
- Vegan or short on eggs? Make a flax egg substitute instead. Combine 1 tbsp of flaxseed meal to 3 tbsp of water (for each egg your replacing). Mix together and place in the fridge for up to 30 minutes for it to thicken up.
- Don’t like chocolate? No problem, just remove them from the recipe.
- Need homemade pumpkin spice: Combine 1 tsp of cinnamon + 1/4 tsp of ground nutmeg + 1/4 tsp of ground ginger + 1/8 tsp of ground cloves
HOMEMADE PUMPKIN PUREE
Do you prefer to make your own oven-baked homemade pumpkin puree or simply have a few pumpkins lying that need to get used up?
Check out these step-by-step instructions by The Pioneer Women. Once your puree is done, you’ll be able to make these moist pumpkin chocolate chip muffins for your family to enjoy.
I also have a great Instant Pot version (linked below) where you place the entire pumpkin inside your pressure cooker (skin and all).
Note: This recipe calls for a lot of pumpkin puree and spices (it’s not a typo). The puree brings so much moistness to these muffins.
I usually make pretty healthy recipes but I won’t pretend these are low-fat calorie muffins. They are however beautifully soft, super flavorful and my muffin of choice for those moments of indulgence. If you are looking for a more health-conscious version, please check out the memo section of my recipe card below where I offer modifications to the recipe.
I have made and tried the modified version, it is still very tasty, you just lose a small portion of the moistness and sweetness but they are definitely not dry.

Dutch is the author of Vanilla Nomad, Monday’s Not Coming, and Let Me Hear a Rhyme. A professional chef by day, and novelist by night. She received her bachelor of arts in film from Kingsborough Community College and her master of cooking from the New School. A Brooklyn native; she is a lover of naps, cookie dough, and beaches. Currently residing in the borough she loves, most likely multitasking. You can visit her online at https://vanillanomad.com